Slideshow: Bill’s Dodge/Cummins Oil Bypass Filter Install

Our customer Bill M. recently installed an AMSOIL Oil By-Pass Oil Filter System on the 5.9L Cummins engine of his 2003 Dodge 2500. Bill did a great job on this project, so we thought we’d post his photos and share some of the details of his installation. Hooking up an oil by-pass filter system on the newer 6.7L Cummins engine is identical to this process, but the mounting location in the engine bay may vary.

The advantages of oil by-pass filtration to Bill’s engine include an oil filtration improvement of between 1500 to 2500 percent. The ultra-dense by-pass filter media slowly filters the oil to remove particles less than one micron in size. The result is reduced engine wear and vastly longer oil change intervals. A bonus benefit is an oil capacity increase of around 1.5 quarts.

Before embarking on this project, Bill had to decide whether to purchase a single remote or a dual-remote by-pass system. A single remote system utilizes a stand-alone by-pass oil filter. With a single remote system, the engine’s stock full-flow oil filter remains in place and operates as normal. A dual-remote oil by-pass filter system mounts both the by-pass filter and full-flow oil filter in one location. The engine oil is drawn and returned through an adapter on the full-flow oil filter location.

Bill opted for the single remote system as it is slightly less expensive, takes up less room and is relatively easy to install on Dodge/Cummins engines. Here are the parts needed for installation on his 5.9 litre Cummins engine:

• Single Remote By-pass Kit (BMK-21)
• By-Pass Oil Filter Element (EaBP-100)
• 90-degree JIC Elbow (BP-242)
• 1/8″ NPT – 1/4″ JIC fitting (BP-241)
• Billet Aluminum Oil Fill Cap/Oil Return For Dodge/Cummins 5.9L/6.7L (BK-1303)

Bill cleverly designed a mounting bracket that utilized existing threaded holes on the top of the fender and next to the battery, so no drilling on the truck was required. The bracket was welded using 1” angle iron and ¼” X ½” flat iron. The end result is a solid, clean mounting bracket.

An important note to pass along regarding pre-2004 5.9L Cummins single remote installations. In the AMSOIL price list, the BK-1303 Billet Aluminum Oil Cap is stated as being suitable for “2004 and later” 5.9L and 6.7L engines. This information is incorrect. This cap is compatible with pre-2004 5.9L Cummins engines. We initially (and mistakenly) recommended that Bill drill out the stock oil filler cap and install the BP-89 Universal Filler Cap Return Fitting. The ratchet action of the stock filler cap along with its tapered interior made it impossible to correctly install this fitting. AMSOIL Technical Services staff told us that the billet cap was indeed compatible with the 2003 model, so Bill went this route.